I have had Panasonic PTAX-100U which has started giving me problems. Someone suggested that since I use it as TV, to go for a DLP as opposed to LCD. Costco has this for 1,150/-. The only downside is that it is not 1080p. Is there anything out there that is comparable in price and features but is 1080p.

Optoma HD71 DLP projector Carada 106” 16:9 aspect ratio Matte White screen Leviton Acenti LE-ACSSR Surge Protected outlet Palliser Valero leather home theater thrones Onkyo TX-SR602 receiver/amplifier Sony DVP-NS700H/S 1080p Upscaling DVD Player Sony CDP-C500 5 CD changer Sony Playstation 2 (old version) Comcast Motorola DCH3416 HD DVR/Cable box Polk Audio Monitor 7 loudspeakers Polk Audio CS center channel speaker Infinity BU-80 8” subwoofer BIC Venturi V52 surround speakers Logitech Harmony 880 universal remote Vantage Point CGUPM12-S universal projector mount Sanus WMS-2 Wall speaker mounts Cables to Go’s Impact Acoustics cabling all around Here are some photos of our basement home theater (16’ L x 15’ W; the basement is actually larger but all seating, etc. is contained within that area). My reasons for installing the home theater are various. I rarely, if ever, purchase much of substance for myself, so this was a BIG decision. Aside from our house, cars, and basement finishing, this is the largest expenditure I have made (even larger than my wife’s engagement ring). I am one of those guys that asks for blue jeans, socks, etc. for Christmas. Aside from really enjoying such a theater myself when watching sports and movies my main reasons were: * a “destination” for my children and their friends to gather in the future. I will exchange a little bit of noise and inconvenience for knowing where my kids are. * a nice venue to entertain our friends and family. I believe the current economic environment will cause many to look for lower cost alternatives for entertainment over the next 2-3 years. The cost of beverages and a snack purchased at WalMart is less than a movie for two. * a desire to have something nice and enjoy it. Please see comments at beginning of paragraph. * good pricing due to the recession. “Cash is king.” A little bit of background … we had the basement finished by a very well regarded home builder several years after we purchased the home. The decision to install a theater was just made this year (4 years after the basement was finished). The odd looking picture you see is of the water shut off valve and plumbing that the original homebuilder decided to poorly locate (the owner of the company is serving time for embezzlement – Great company, great builder, great people … not). The basement finishers concealed it with a “door to nowhere” (the white door can be seen in the left of the photo if you look closely). I wanted to reclaim this wasted space when installing the home theater and was able to accomplish this with the help of a carpenter who made custom shelving and helped me install our entire home theater. The two panels around the shelving pop off so access to the plumbing can be attained. Yes, I am just a little nervous about potential water around my componentry but the only component that I purchased new is the DVD player for <$75. SO WHAT IS THE VERDICT …? The projector, cable box, screen, and custom shelving have been the items that have “WOWED” me. I cannot say enough good things about those pieces. Be aware that the Logitech Harmony remote takes a significant amount of patience, time, and technical skill to set up properly. Although I cannot attest to its longevity yet, once it is set up, it works wonderfully (Logitech Tech Support is impressive); however, I could not recommend it to too many of my friends because of lack of the aforementioned traits. For those installing their first home theaters – like me – here are some pearls of wisdom learned from my experience: * repeat out loud every 30 minutes during installation, “All measurements are from lens center.” * purchase cabling from Monoprice.com. I could have paid 33 - 50% less on equally excellent cables. * obtain a basic understanding of room acoustics and research, research, research. I knew before installation that I took a risk when placing seating against the back wall. Now, I am left trying to sharpen bass notes. It is nothing most people would notice, and I had chosen to place the seating so my children could actually use the space between the seating and speakers. * make “line of sight” height measurements to ensure you hang your screen at the proper height for your specific viewing area. Finally, if anyone can help me with a question about leather furniture, I would appreciate it. The leather theater chairs were just delivered direct from the factory and have a heavy chemical smell. Is this common? If so, is there any way I can expedite it going away? Will that “great leather smell” eventually emerge? One of the main reasons I purchased leather was the great smell.